the problem

Despite economic growth in urban centers and industry, Mozambique's rural communities remain isolated from opportunities. Many factors contribute to cycles of poverty:

• Low food security and incomes, high vulnerability to harsh environmental conditions
• Poor nutrition and high prevalence of illnesses, particularly malaria and AIDS
• Low literacy rates and limited organizational capacity among community associations
• Lack of business experience and entrepreneurial drive due to former centralized socialist economy
• Little locally available expertise in the production of value-added products using local resources
• Lack of markets and commercial partners for locally available forest products

factors in forest loss

slash and burn agricultural practices 42%
firewood and charcoal 33%
burning, mainly for hunting 16%
timber for local construction 4%
logging for high value timber 4%
bad beekeeping practices 2%
other 1%

Existing income-generating opportunities in rural areas often have negative environmental impacts, particularly firewood harvesting, brick-burning and charcoal production. Thousands of hectares of Mozambican woodland are deforested each year, further threatening food security, wildlife and indigenous plant species.

the solution

Considering poverty levels in Mozambique, communities must have real economic incentive to conserve their forests. Access is needed to competitive and sustainable income-generating alternatives that utilize local forest resources without threatening biodiversity. It is important to create as many opportunities as possible, utilizing all available forest resources - the more value is added to the different, raw forest materials, the more people within the communities will benefit. As markets for such products grow, more individuals will want to become – and stay – involved in reaping the economic benefits. These markets elevate the value of the raw forest materials, thus creating an incentive for restoring the resources taken out and promoting a culture of environmental stewardship.

our contribution

Bio Óleos de Maxixe promotes community responsibility and active participation in forest health through expansion of meaningful income generation at the rural community level. Mozambique's natural resources have impressive potential, as long as they are sustainably managed. The local establishment of a consumer-ready product production facility utilizing natural forest products finally offers not only a consistent market, but the potential to maintain more revenue from Mozambique's natural resources within communities through sales of value-added, sustainably produced products, as opposed to the export of raw materials.